China's first Type 075 amphibious assault ship achieves initial operating capability

The People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN's) first Yushen (Type 075)-class amphibious assault ship, Hainan , has achieved initial operating capability, state-controlled media Global Times reported on 2 March.

The warship, which was commissioned in April 2021, is likely to achieve full operating capability after about a year of training activities, said the report citing the vessel's skipper, Captain Lu Yongjun, who made the comments to state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV).

The Type 075 is the PLAN's second largest warship type after its aircraft carriers. It displaces about 35,000 tonnes and has an overall length of about 235 m. The vessel has six helicopter landing spots on its through-deck flight deck and it can embark about 30 helicopters in total. In addition, the vessel is equipped with a docking well for amphibious landing operations.

In terms of air-defence capabilities, the Type 075 is armed with the HHQ-10 short-range surface-to-air missile system and the H/PJ-11 30 mm close-in weapon system (CIWS). To complement these, the vessel is equipped with the Type 726 24-barelled decoy launcher that can fire chaffs and infrared flares to counter incoming hostile precision-guided missiles.

In the run-up to Hainan achieving its full operating capability, the vessel and its crew will “visit harbours and ports all over the world and provide an outstanding image” of the PLAN, said Captain Lu in comments carried by Global Times .

The PLAN commissioned its second Type 075 vessel in December 2021, while a third vessel in the class is fitting out at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai after its launch in January the same year.